St Patrick's Day party organiser Wattie Corcoran has been running celebrations for the Irish national holiday for more than 50 years, mostly in Southland where he previously lived.
For the past six years, however, he has put together an annual St Patrick's Day bash in Cromwell, more recently under the umbrella of the ‘‘looselyestablished'' Celtic Society of Cromwell.
Mr Corcoran said the society was only small at this stage - so far just he and fellow Cromwell man Duncan Mathers, of the Alexandra Pipe Band, belonged - but it aimed to ‘‘generate a sense of camaraderie between people with Gaelic and Celtic backgrounds''.
‘‘It's about cementing our Gaelic and Celtic traditions,'' Mr Corcoran said.
The programme for next Tuesday evening's party will feature ‘‘soulstirring Gaelic music and entertainment'', including a welcome by the Alexandra Pipe Band - also featuring pipers and drummers from Queenstown and Cromwell, Martin Chaney and his ensemble, Alexandra's all-male choir, a solo performance by baritone Jim McCombie, comedy by ‘‘The King of Blarney'' Barry Kean and a piano sing-along with Michael Olds.
Mr Corcoran encouraged people to attend in Irish-themed fancy dress, as there would be prizes awarded for the best costumes. The event would be BYO food and drink, with the promotional poster specifying ‘‘lads a plate, ladies a bottle''.
He expected to get about 100 people along. - Celebrate St Patrick's Day at the Sligo St hall in Cromwell next Tuesday night from 7.30pm. Entry is a gold coin donation.
